The freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1886-18??, 1887-12-21
aTHE LIQUOR TRAFFIC."
4 Methodist Episcopal Discipline
PrOhibitiOnist.
rPittsburg Christian Advocated

article Oh LILO Ai4 WI sAS, - sAo
last issue of the Advocdte, he char.
acterizes the prohibitionists as
adogmatic and uncharitable; they
will neither compromise nor aftili-
ate with other temperance
workers" etc. But what are the
facts. and who are the most un-
charitable and most addicted to
Misrepresentation? 1t is well
known that these prohibitionists
are, as a rule, total abstainists and
moral suasionists, and that they
are always foremost in getting up
circumstances, in forming law and
order leagues, and fighting along
local option and constitutional
amendment lines. They are lead
ers in all such movements, and all
who waut to show them fair play
will acknowledge it. The only
thing which can be laid to their
charge is, that they vote as they
pray. and utterly refuse to affiliate
with those who go in for high Ii
cense and other mere regulating
methods. To be consistent Metho-
dists they are tound to pursue this
course.
A resolution was offered at the
last session of the Pittsburgh Con.
ference, commencing the action of
our recent legislature IN passing
high license law; but it was voted
down as unwise and unmethodistic,
Bishop Hurst informing them that
they could not pass that resolution
in the face of the Methodist Disci-
pline. After the resolution had
met its deserved fate, the Bishop
arose and related his experience as
q former high-license advocate, add
ing that he had been converted,
and giving solid reasons and facts
to show that this popular method
of regulation" is delusien. All
who are we'll posted on the history
and results of this high license
dodge will endorse the Bishops
opinion. And every Methodist, es
pecially, who consents to any such
method of compromise as high Ii
cense, is disloyal to the Discipline
of his Church.
But DR.. Davidson affirms that
the great bulk of the temperance
people Of this country are in the
two old parties, and he seems to
think that those who are in the
temperance party ought to disband
and scatter back into those parties
again, and let them fight this bat
tie out. But the old parties are
both on the same side. There is
so little difference between them
that there is no longer any cause
for fighting, except tor the offices
that are to be dished out every
four years. The Democrats and
Republicans can't get up fight on
the temperance question, for both
are afraid to come out and espouse
it, except in some local cases which
will not imperil their success as a
state or national party. Where
are the prohibitionists to vote?
The Democrats do not claim to be
temperance party and the tact
that the great centers and strong
holds of the Repu blican party are
the strongholds of the rum power,
and the fact that the traffic has
grown to such immense proper
tons under its protecting and fos-
tering care, prove that it is not
temperance party. Shall the pro-
hibitionists cast their votes with
party which will use them only to
kindle afresh the fire of this modern
Gehenna2
1t is true that the prohibition
leaven in the cd parties, and the
organization of the new party have
compelled them to pass some tem-
perance measures in several of tbs
states, north and south and it may
be said of them, indeed, that they
are "sanctifed in spots" But the
unsanctified spots still cover nearly
the entire political body. Then,
every four years at least, this,chame-
leon creature performs feat
which Jeremiah's leopard could
mott changes its spots, and re-
treats to the old national platform
which is constructed with such in